Stringed musical instrument and chart therefor



Oct. 19, 1937. e. w. HAMILTON Er AL STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AND CHART THEREFOR Filed Feb. 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jnventors who 51 mm:. 2, mow 2 6 EM CLZHoFa/v (lttornegs Patented Oct 19, 1937 PATENT OFFICE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AND CHART THEREFOR Gilbert W. Hamilton, Nocatee, and Emil A. Hofer, Arcadia, Fla.

Application February 29, 1936, Serial No. 66,492

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stringed musical instruments and charts therefor.

Among the several objects of our invention are to provide an instrument of the zither type having a resonant body and a plurality of groups ofmelody and chord strings arranged thereon in such a manner as to simplify the playing of the melody strings and the accompaniment or chord strings; to provide achart which is adapted tobe inserted under the strings and which includes a score of the tune to be played wherein the note designations are in a juxtaposition with the strings to be vibrated in the order indicated by the score, and to provide an arrangement of the strings and a key-changing means associated therewith whereby the charts may be prepared in two keys only and the instrument may be played in any of the major keys.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

'' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is -a plan view of a stringed musical instrument embodying our invention and showing the application of our chart thereon,

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, parts being shown in section,

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a plan view of our chart showing one face thereof prior to being folded for insertion below the strings of the instrument,

Figure 5 is a similar view but showing the other face of the chart, and

Figure 6 is a plan view of'a single chart portion having a two-part score arranged for playing in different keys in succession. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, our improved stringed instrument which is of the zither type, is designated generally by the character A, and includes a resonant elongated body having a bottom 4, sides 5, 5, and a flat top 6 provided with the usual opening 1. Secured to and extending transversely across the top 6 adjacent the right hand end thereof, is a bridge 8, and secured to and extending transversely across the I top adjacent to but spaced from the left hand end is a bridge 9.

A plurality of spaced groups III, II, I2, and I3 of chord strings extend longitudinally of the body and over the bridges 8, 9, and have their ends secured to the body by the usual means, each group consisting of three strings, and the groups forming the chords D, G, C, and F.

Also extending longitudinally of the body over the bridges 8, 9, is a plurality of groups of melody strings I4, I5, I6, II, I8, I9, 20, 2I, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 21, 28, 29, and 30. These melody strings are arranged in diatonic scale order and comprise the following respective strings, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, F-sharp, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. The first group consists of the three melody strings I4, I5, I6 and are positioned below the D chord group or strings I0; the second group consists of the melody strings II, I8 and I9 and are positioned intermediate the D chord group or strings I0 and the G chord group or strings I I; the third group consists of the melody strings 20, 2 I, 22 and 23 and are positioned intermediate the G chord group or strings II and the C chord group or strings I2; the fourth group consists of the melody strings 24, 25 and 26 and are positioned intermediate the C chord group or strings II and the F chord group or strings I3; and the fifth group consists of the melody strings 21, 28, 29 and 30 and are positioned above the F chord group or strings i3. Thus it will be observed that the chords D, G, C, and F which are represented by the numerals I0, II, I2, and I3, are not only positioned in ascending tone relation, but are also respectively positioned intermediate the groups of melody strings which are arranged in diatonic scale order.

A transverse line of string indicia Bis located on the top 6 adjacent the right hand bridge 8. These indicia comprise the letters corresponding to the melody strings and the names of the four 3 groups of chord strings, the letters being located directly under the corresponding melody strings and the names being located directly under the groups of chord strings.

We have provided means for changing the tones of the chord and melody strings, whereby the instrument may be played in any of the major keys, Viz., G, A-fiat, A, B-fiat, B, C, C-sharp, D, E-flat, E, F, and F-sharp. To this end, we have attached to the sides 5, 5 of the instrument body adjacent the left hand bridge I, a pair of guide or hold-down plates 3 I, 32 which project above the top 6 of the body and terminate in inwardly extending flanges 33 and 34 respectively. These flanges are spaced equidistantly above the plane of the strings. A transverse roller bridge 35 lies on the strings between the flanges 33, 34 and is provided with reduced ends 36, 31 which engage under and have rolling frictional contact with said flanges due to the upward pressure of the strings.

Located along the flanges 33, 34 are spaced major key designations C and D respectively, which are arranged in rows extending in parallelism with the strings. The designations 0, reading from left to right, comprise the characters G, A-ilat, A, B-flat, B, C, and'C-sharp. The designations D, reading from left to right, comprise the characters C, C-sharp, D, E-flat, E, F, and F-sharp. The characters on one flange are disposed directly opposite the characters on the other flange, and located at the right hand side of each character is a center line 38.

The normal position of the roller bridge 35 is shown in Figure 1 wherein the center lines 38, 38 on the right of the characters G and C are in alinement with the longitudinal axis of the roller bridge. It will be noted that the bottom contact line of the roller bridge is located below the horizontal plane containing the contact line ofthe stationary bridge 53, and consequently all of the strings are bowed downwardly by the roller bridge. Thus the tones of the strings are determined by the distance between the stationary bridge 8 and the roller bridge 35. Whenever it is desired to change the key of the instrument, the roller bridge 35 is rolled into position with respect to the proper key designation and with the associated center lines 38, 38 ,in alinement with said roller bridge.

Our invention further involves the use of a specially constructed chart folio El which is adapted to be placed under the strings of the instrument and in cooperation therewith to guide the player'in performing on the proper melody strings and group of chord strings. To this end, we have provided a blank of paper or the like which has a transverse line of fold 39 and a longitudinal line of fold'tfl which divide the blank into four rectangular chart portions M, 42, 43, and l of equal length and width. This blank, when folded on the lines 39 and 40, forms the folio into proper size so that it can be freely entered between the top of the instrument and the strings and between the stationary bridge 8 and a transverse guide 45 which is attached to the top 6 of the instrument adjacent the right hand end of the hold-down flanges 33, 34 and in spaced relation to the bridge 8. The bridge 8 and the guide 45 are formed along their inner faces with longitudinally extending guide grooves 46, 41 respectively, for receiving the edges of the folded chart folio and thereby retain said folio from contact with the strings of the instrument. Projecting upwardly from the top 6 of the instrument at points intermediate the bridge 8 and the guide 45 are stop pins 48, 48 which function to limit the inward movement of the chart folio and thereby position the latter in proper relation to the strings of the instrument.

Printed'on each face of each chart portion is the score S of the tune corresponding to the title 49 printed on said portion directly above the score. These scores are prepared for use in playing either in the key of G or the key of C. Each score consists of a zig-zag line 50 running from left to right, and located in this line are designations such as dots 5! which are located directly under the melody strings to be, played.

Some of these dots 5| may each have a stem.

with a hook, or a stem with two hooks, to denote eighth and sixteenth notes respectively. Also arranged in this zig-zag line are chord designations such as one or more bars 52 which are located directly under the chord strings to be played, and each of which indicates the corresponding chord which is to be struck once. In playing the instrument, the player follows the score, beginning at the left hand end of the zig-zag line and plays the melody strings and the chord strings in the order represented by the dots and bars in the score. Some of these bars may each have a stem with onehook, or a stem with two hooks, to denote time values corresponding to eighth and sixteenth notes respectively.

Although we have shown a chart folio E: consisting of four foldable portions, it is obvious that any number of portions may be employed if desired. It will bealso understood that one or more scores S may be placed on either or both faces of any one or all portions of the folio, or that a single portion only may be employed.

In Figure 6 we have shown a single chart 42a having a two-part score S thereon, one being written for playing in the key of G and the other being written for playing in the key of C. The

part written for playing in the key of C is 10-.

cated higher on the chart than the other part which is written for playing in the key; of G.

This arrangement enables a person to play a piece of music which includes two separate keys.

Whenever it is desired to raise or lower the pitch of the strings and thereby register the strings with some other instrument, the roller bridge 35 may be readily moved towards or from the bridge '8 and thereby accomplish this object.

If it is desired to play the instrument in some major key, other than G or C, and without changing the chart, it is necessary only to shift the roller bridge35 into register with the predetermined key designations.

As above stated, the charts are marked either Key of G or Key of C.

By including the top chord F, the top melody strings F, G and A, and the thirteenth melody string F, it is possible to play the instrumentin either the key of G or the key of C, providing the movable bridge 35 is retained in its normal position, viz., in register with the G and C key designations. a

In order to play a tune in the key of G, the

chart score must be prepared to include the use of the melody strings from low G (the bottom string) to high E (the fourth string from the top), and the chord strings D, G, and C, and

assuming that the movable bridge 35 is in register with the key designations G and C. This chart can be played on our instrument in any one of the following major keys, G, A-flat, A, B-flat; B, C, and C-sharp, by simply adjusting the roller to the selected key position.

In order to play a tune in the key of C, the

chart score must be prepared to include the use of the melody strings from low C (fourth melody string from the bottom) to high A (the top mel-- ody string) and the chord strings G, C and F, and assuming that the movable bridge 35 is in' register with the key designations C and G. This chart can be played on our instrument in any one of the following major keys, C, C-sharp, D,

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts. may

be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim: 1

1. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination with a resonant body, of a pair of spaced bridges fixedly mounted on said body, a plurality of strings extending over said bridges, plates attached to the body on opposite sides thereof and between said bridges but adjacent to one thereof, said plates having flanges extending inwardly above and in spaced relation to said strings, and a roller bridge positioned between the stationary bridges and above and in contact with said strings, the end portions being below and having rolling frictional contact with said flanges.

2. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination of a resonant body, a plurality of alternate groups of melody strings and chord strings mounted thereon, there being four groups of chord strings comprising D chord strings, G chord strings, C chord strings, and F chord strings, there being seventeen melody strings all arranged in diatonic scale order from G to A and including an F-sharp string located intermediate the G chord and the C chord, plates attached to the body on opposite sides thereof and between said bridges but adjacent to one thereof, said plates having flanges extending inwardly above and in spaced relation to said strings, and a roller bridge positioned between the stationary bridges and above and in contact with said strings, the end portions being below and having rolling frictional contact with said flanges.

3. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination with a resonant body, of a pair of spaced bridges fixedly mounted on said body, a plurality of strings extending over said bridges, plates attached to the body on opposite sides thereof and between said bridges but adjacent to one thereof, said plates having flanges extending inwardly above and in spaced relation to said strings, a roller bridge positioned between the stationary bridges and above and in contact with said strings, the end portions being below and having rolling frictional contact with said flanges, and a plurality of spaced key designations located on each flange and arranged in a row disposed in parallelism with said strings for cooperation with said movable key-changing bridge.

4. In a stringed musical instrument, the combination of a resonant body, a plurality of alternate groups of melody strings and chord strings mounted thereon, there being four groups of chord strings comprising D chord strings, G chord strings, C chord strings, and F chord strings, there being seventeen melody strings all arranged in diatonic scale order from G to A and including an F-sharp string located intermediate the G chord and the C chord, plates attached to the body on opposite sides thereof and between said bridges but adjacent to one thereof, said plates having flanges extending inwardly above and in spaced relation to said strings, a roller bridge positioned between the stationary bridges and above and in contact with said strings, the end portions being below and having rolling frictional contact with said flanges, and a plurality of spaced key designations located on each flange and arranged in a. row disposed in parallelism with said strings for cooperation with said movable key-changing bridge.

GILBERT W. HAMILTON. EMIL A. HOFER. 

